Austria's Covid-19 Status: A Comprehensive Overview

Austria's COVID-19 strategy has been based on a comprehensive testing strategy, which includes tests for suspected cases and contact persons, specific screening programmes for vulnerable groups, and population-wide monitoring and screening. The country has also implemented lockdowns, curfews, social distancing, and travel restrictions.

Austria has nine states, all of which have been infected. The country introduced a national lockdown in the spring of 2020 to prevent the spread of the virus, closing large venues, cultural, retail, and entertainment establishments, as well as schools and universities. Travel restrictions were also implemented to prevent cases from being brought in from abroad.

In 2021, 43% of the country considered the measures undertaken by the Austrian government to be proportionate. However, the uptake of the vaccine was slower than in other countries, leading the government to make it mandatory on March 15, 2022. This decision was met with controversy and was abolished on June 23, 2022.

Now, Austria has reopened, and life is similar to the pre-pandemic era. On February 1, 2023, the Austrian government announced that all COVID-19 protective measures and special provisions would be phased out by June 30, 2023.

Austria's COVID-19 National Strategy

The country's COVID-19 strategy has involved a comprehensive testing strategy based on three pillars:

• Tests initiated by a public authority for suspected cases and contact persons.
• Specific screening programs for vulnerable groups and professionals with an elevated exposure to infection risk.
• Population-wide monitoring and screening with easy access to free testing for everyone.

Austria was one of the first countries to go into a complete lockdown and has taken strong and prompt action to limit the spread of the virus. The government has implemented measures such as social distancing, the closure of non-essential businesses, and strict border controls. In addition, Austria has provided economic support to affected sectors and aid packages to help businesses and safeguard jobs.

As of May 2021, Austria had eased some restrictions, including reopening non-essential shops, museums, and zoos with social distancing and mask requirements in place. However, hotels and restaurants remained closed, and indoor sports were still forbidden. The government continued to recommend working from home whenever possible.

Austria's COVID-19 vaccination policy

Vaccination Recommendations and Requirements

It is recommended that individuals get their COVID-19 vaccines up to date before travelling to Austria. While it is not mandatory to be vaccinated to enter Austria, unvaccinated travellers may face additional restrictions, such as quarantine upon arrival.

Vaccine Distribution

Austria has implemented a comprehensive testing strategy that comprises three pillars:

• Tests initiated by public authorities for suspected cases and close contacts.
• Specific screening programmes for vulnerable groups, their caregivers, and professionals with elevated exposure to infection risk.
• Population-wide monitoring and screening, offering easy access to free testing for everyone.

Incentives and Mandates

Austria considered implementing a vaccine mandate, especially for healthcare workers, but this was met with strong opposition and criticism. Instead, they focused on educational programs and incentives to encourage vaccination. However, these incentives had limited success, as many unvaccinated individuals were not motivated by monetary incentives or other abstract concepts.

Mask Requirements

Austria has had mask requirements in place, especially during periods of higher COVID-19 incidence. FFP2 masks were mandatory in public transport, shops, markets, and various services. Social distancing measures were also enforced, requiring individuals to maintain a distance of 2 metres when meeting people from other households.

Travel Restrictions

Austria implemented travel restrictions during the pandemic, including mandatory quarantines for travellers from high-risk countries.

Lockdown Measures

Austria imposed several lockdowns throughout the pandemic, closing non-essential businesses, schools, and cultural institutions. These lockdowns were gradually eased as incidence rates improved, but restrictions on gatherings and business operations remained in place.

Austria's COVID-19 testing strategy

The second pillar involves specific screening programs for vulnerable groups, their carers, and professionals with an elevated exposure to infection risk. This pillar uses mainly rapid antigen tests, with some pilot programs using RT qPCR gargling tests. Tests take place at testing sites or directly at the workplace, such as care homes or hospitals.

The third pillar is population-wide monitoring and screening with easy access to free testing for everyone. The main objective is to detect asymptomatic persons early on and isolate them. This includes entry tests for certain services, such as hairdressers, or places, such as hospitals and care homes. Testing possibilities are widely available in testing sites, enterprises, and pharmacies. There are also self-tests for personal use.

Austria's COVID-19 travel restrictions

Austria has had some of the strictest COVID-19 restrictions in Europe. As of July 2022, however, there are no longer any COVID-19 restrictions in place in the country. This means that, regardless of vaccination history, there is no need to show any documentation relating to a traveller's health status.

Prior to this, Austria had implemented a series of lockdowns, with the second taking place in November 2020. During this time, people could only leave their homes for essential purposes, such as grocery shopping, work, supporting others, or exercise. All non-essential businesses, bars, restaurants, cafes and hairdressers were closed. Hotels were also closed, except in the case of emergencies or work-related travel.

In December 2020, a third lockdown was announced, with essential services remaining open, and shops, non-essential services, hotels, libraries, zoos and restaurants remaining closed. A curfew was in place from 8 pm to 6 am, and meetings of six adults and six children from two households were allowed in public. After this lockdown, some restrictions were eased, with non-essential businesses reopening, and schools offering face-to-face learning.

In December 2021, Austria imposed a quarantine on arrivals from the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. Those who had received their booster shot and could present a negative PCR test were exempt from quarantine. The quarantine period was 10 days but could be reduced to five with a negative COVID-19 test.

Austria's COVID-19 health protocols for tourism services and tourists

Austria has had several lockdowns during the COVID19 pandemic, with the first one being announced on 16 March 2020. The country has also imposed various travel restrictions, with many countries on its restricted list. Here is an overview of Austria's COVID-19 health protocols for tourism services and tourists:

For Tourists:

Tourists without proof of vaccination, a negative test, or recovery from COVID-19 must quarantine on arrival. This rule applies to tourists from the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, DR Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, USA, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

For Tourism Services:

Austria's COVID-19 health protocols for tourism services are based on the European Standardisation Organisation's (CEN) European standardisation deliverable for COVID-19 health and safety protocols in tourism establishments and services. The protocols are designed to complement the CEN's endorsement of a safety protocol developed by the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO). The CWA 5643 series includes:

• Endorsement by CEN of the ISO PAS 5643 'Measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the tourism industry', which provides requirements and recommendations for various tourism enterprises and locations.
• A CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) 'Guidelines and requirements to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the tourism industry – Part 2', which offers a dedicated European label and clarifies the minimum requirements for a quality assurance mechanism.

Tourism businesses have the flexibility to use only the protocols of the ISO PAS 5643 or to opt for labelling under the CWA if provided for by national competent authorities.

Frequently asked questions